critters

I love the outdoors.  Every chance I get, I am out enjoying creation, however I am not a fan of critters.  As my definition goes, a critter is any insect, snake, lizard, frog and the list goes on and on .... I think you get the point.  Tonight I did the routinely drive,  picking up a group of girls from school in Jalalpa and driving them back to the orphanage.  Matt usually makes this trek in the dark but is fighting a flu.  The roads were swampy to say the least.  Rainy season has hit and the roads prove it.  I feared stepping out of the truck to close the gate behind me as I left the orphanage.  Not knowing where I was stepping on this pitch black, rainy night in my flip flops kind of freaked me out.  I must admit, I feel like a bit of a failure in my boys' eyes.  In the past I have said no to snakes, frogs, geckos and other critters for pets.  I must clarify, the snake was a find in the neighbours backyard in Canada.  However, today I feel like a hero.  I came home with a surprise that won Gabe's heart and mine with his response.  Apparently I am "the best mom in the whole world".  Just sayin:)  I almost squealed as it's head poked out while trying to pick it up.  Our new backyard guest.....a tortuga (turtle)!

Alternative Realities

My 'coworkers' for the morning shovelling stone to
be used in the cement foundation of the new storage house.

The past couple of weeks have been crazy here in Jalapa.  However through the fog of all of the work and activity a few moments stood out.
This past Friday I went to Casa Hogar to help with collecting river rocks for the new driveway and to buy some school supplies for some of the girls.  However plans changed (surprise surprise) and I ended up having to haul loads of sand, stone and cinder block to the construction site of the new storage house that is being funded by a group from Spain.  I was partnered with two boys as my helpers for the morning.  After a bit of grunt labour, conversation started to pick up and I found out that the boys were 14 years old and had been working in construction full-time for the last two years.
When I asked about school, they stated that they complete weekend courses to keep up with their peers.  Looking at these two boys, who are a bit smaller than the average 14 year old boy in Canada,  I was amazed.  From our experience here boys don't work like this unless they need to support their family.  It was difficult for me to comprehend how at the age of 12 they stopped living like a 'normal' child and took on more of a role of a man.
These experiences make it hard for me to return to the comforts of Canada because this kind of story is exactly what it is 'foreign'.  It is not to say that these boys were pathetic in appearance, malnourished, being abused, or not receiving an education.  It just seems far from fair when we compare the standards and expectations for our children in North America to those children who live 2000 kilometres south of us.
I don't think that a child working a job is bad thing (depending on the duration and type of labour).  However, when the expectation is to be the provider for your family and forego elements of your youth to earn less than $7 a day, this is a reality I will try to but never understand.

This picture does no justice but while driving by with my young
co-workers I snapped off a photo of Eddie's house while some of
the women from the community lingered from the new cooking lesson.

The other moment was watching a group of women from Los Pinos collect at Eddie's house to learn how to prepare different foods that are more nutritious for their children.  Once a month this so called gourmet group collects at a different home in Los Pinos where the woman of the house instructs the others on how to cook the new meal or snack.  Food resources are limited, you have to bring your own plate or bag to carry out the new creation, it has to be cooked over an open flame or wood stove, and since many of the women in the village are at the party you bring your kids as well.  Great to see the community connect this way and have the opportunity to be creative with one-another.  Reminded me of my wife's gourmet group back in Canada, but this focussed on the practical production of nutritious foods at a low cost for children.

Feliz Dia del Madre

the moms of Casa Hogar

Even "Gordito" got in on the action

love it when the nuns sing

 For many people, Mother's Day is a special day but in Guatemala it's a big deal.  It all started this morning  when I woke Gabe up for school. Unlike any other morning when I have to peel him out of bed, he jumped up and asked if he could walk to the corner store.  I suggested Matt go with him as I didn't think it was good idea he walk by himself at 6:30am.  I watched as he secretly gathered materials for making me a card at school.  What Gabe didn't know is that Mother's Day actually falls on Thursday of this week. I didn't want to burst his bubble.   Casa Hogar handed out personal invites yesterday to all the moms to meet in the courtyard of the orphanage for 10:30 am this morning.  Maybe this is where he got the idea that today was the big day.  I showed up and was ushered in through a lineup of hugs, warm wishes and of course firecrackers.  For those of you who have been to Guatemala, you know exactly what I am talking about.  It was so special to see all the young mothers of the house being honoured at the front.  I watch these young moms some at the age of 13 caring for their babies, and can't imagine the weight they carry.  Even though it's kids raising kids,  there is no one like mommy.  The girls wear the exact same uniform and  yet their little ones can pick them out of a crowd of girls.  So sweet!  We were entertained with songs, dancing, skits and speeches while we enjoyed a new cookie recipe I taught the nuns the day before.  My heart melted!  To top it off, when I got home  I was greeted at our front gate by Gabe, who proudly handed over a pink envelope that he fashioned.  I sat and opened it and out fell a half eaten chocolate bar and card.  Apparently the chocolate bar broke in half and someone got hungry while making the card.  I laughed and cried ...yes I did the laugh/cry.  

Providence or Coincidence?

Providence is defined as a manifestation of divine care or direction.  Coincidence is defined as a striking occurrence of two or more events at one time apparently by by mere chance.  There have been so many times while here that we have felt the Lord's protection and leading.  I like to think that everything happens for a reason.  Yes, there are some things that just happen, but you know the kind of things that line up perfectly, almost like it was set up for you.  Sometimes it's after the fact that you realize it, and sometimes it's in the moment.  Today was one of those "in the moment"  for Matt and I.

Saturdays have become more of a catch up day for us as a family.  This morning Matt ran loads of wood back and forth to Casa Hogar, while the kids and I chilled at home.  Besides all the laundry and cleaning, we made time for some fun. Gabe loves to draw and I love seeing his creativity come out in his artwork.  Mercedes  had a chance to skype with her best friend Emma and "played school" on the white board.  Max busied himself taking care of the chickens and playing on the computer.   Our guest room became vacant this past week, and so after promising Max, we moved his room over.  This was a big deal for him as he has never had his own room.  He spent a good part of the day setting things up just the way he wanted. I remember when I first got my own room.  I was 16 years old.  As much as it was exciting to have my own space, I missed looking over at my sweet little sister sound asleep as I drifted off to sleep.

As we were getting ready to do our routine Saturday market run, we had company at our gate.  I just love drop in visitors.  We welcomed Mother Claudia and one of the assisting nuns from Casa Hogar in for a refreshing drink on this blistering hot day.  I haven't had much one on one time with Mother Claudia and it was great to connect without constant interruptions.  Matt and I both feel that it takes a lot of time and patience to build and encourage these relationships. We are struggling through speaking a foreign language, that often results in "sign language."   And yet we share the same heart for the girls.  We spent a couple of hours dreaming of what could be, may be for Casa Hogar.  Early on, Matt shared a vision with me for Los Pinos.  I half heartedly listened.  It wasn't until Easter weekend when we did our banana drop in Los Pinos that God stirred something in my heart for this underdeveloped community.  Today, out of the blue, Mother Claudia suggested something that we have been processing. It was directed right at us.  In fact, there was a pause and Matt and I just looked at each other in amazement......providence!